'No room for error': How 2 Dubai residents plan to provide nearly 1 million iftar meals
Long before the start of Ramadan, Dubai-based businessman Imran Karim is already in planning mode.While many residents are preparing for fasting, decorating homes or getting ready spiritually for the holy month, Karim and his brother Mohammed are immersed in the logistics and coordination of preparing to host 33,000 people every single day for iftar, a scale that translates to one million meals over the month.What may appear to be a simple iftar meal is the result of detailed planning, leadership, and collective effort that is carried out under the "Happy Happy UAE" initiative. It is a reminder that for some, Ramadan begins long before the first fast so that thousands can break theirs with dignity every evening.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.“For most people, Ramadan starts with fasting,” said Karim. “We start the preparation for Ramadan much earlier with planning, meetings and making sure nothing goes wrong when you have to host thousands as your guests.”450 tonnes of riceOne of the first and biggest tasks was securing 450 tonnes of rice, a non-perishable staple sourced from Pakistan. The shipment, ordered well in advance, is currently at sea and will be stored in warehouses once it reaches the UAE. “When we place that order, we know it carries the trust of a million people who will eventually eat from it,” he said.Alongside the rice order, Karim began meeting suppliers for water, laban, and dates, all of which are finalised weeks ahead of Ramadan to avoid disruptions. Water and laban are already being packed, while dates are stored in dedicated facilities. “We cannot afford to miss out on anything, and there is no room for error at this scale.”Daily preparationWhile some items can be stored, others require daily preparation. Meat is cut fresh every single day, with work beginning immediately after the first night of Taraweeh prayers. The freshly cut meat is then transported to seven kitchens across Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, where cooking begins in the morning. Vegetables and fruits are sourced fresh daily.“This is not food you can prepare in advance and forget about,” said Karim. “If we are serving food in Ramadan, it has to be fresh, dignified, and done properly. Our focus is to serve the meals hot and fresh.”The meals are distributed across 14 labour camps, with the largest gathering held at the Dubai Investment Park (DIP) iftar, which sees an attendance of around 5,000 people every evening. Other camps receive food simultaneously, requiring precise timing and coordination.'The real backbone'Behind the scenes, preparations also involve many people. Around 6,000 volunteers are expected to take part during Ramadan, helping with preparation, packing and distribution. Karim personally meets volunteers ahead of time to plan the month.“The volunteers are the real backbone of this operation. Many take time off work just to serve others. I want them to understand that this is not about numbers, but about people who fasted the whole day for the meal.”For Karim, Ramadan also means stepping away from his regular business responsibilities. “For this one month, everything else takes a back seat. My only duty is to make sure people can break their fast with peace,” said Karim.Approvals from authoritiesAnother critical step is securing approvals from authorities, a process that is now nearing completion. Storage facilities have been arranged for water, dates and other supplies, with space set aside for the rice shipment once it arrives.In total, the operation involves distributing over 1,095 tonnes of food and beverages, providing nearly one million meals through a carefully planned system that runs without pause for 30 days.“At iftar time, when I see people sitting quietly, breaking their fast, that’s when the exhaustion disappears,” said Karim. “That moment makes the months of planning, the sleepless nights, and everything feel worth it.” 'Broke my fast at 11pm’: Meet UAE medics who delay iftar to save lives during Ramadan'My faith keeps me full': UAE restaurant workers find joy in feeding others while fastingMass iftars in UAE: What goes into preparing, distributing meals among thousands of people
Long before the start of Ramadan, Dubai-based businessman Imran Karim is already in planning mode.
While many residents are preparing for fasting, decorating homes or getting ready spiritually for the holy month, Karim and his brother Mohammed are immersed in the logistics and coordination of preparing to host 33,000 people every single day for iftar, a scale that translates to one million meals over the month.
What may appear to be a simple iftar meal is the result of detailed planning, leadership, and collective effort that is carried out under the "Happy Happy UAE" initiative. It is a reminder that for some, Ramadan begins long before the first fast so that thousands can break theirs with dignity every evening.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“For most people, Ramadan starts with fasting,” said Karim. “We start the preparation for Ramadan much earlier with planning, meetings and making sure nothing goes wrong when you have to host thousands as your guests.”
450 tonnes of rice
One of the first and biggest tasks was securing 450 tonnes of rice, a non-perishable staple sourced from Pakistan. The shipment, ordered well in advance, is currently at sea and will be stored in warehouses once it reaches the UAE. “When we place that order, we know it carries the trust of a million people who will eventually eat from it,” he said.
Alongside the rice order, Karim began meeting suppliers for water, laban, and dates, all of which are finalised weeks ahead of Ramadan to avoid disruptions. Water and laban are already being packed, while dates are stored in dedicated facilities. “We cannot afford to miss out on anything, and there is no room for error at this scale.”
Daily preparation
While some items can be stored, others require daily preparation. Meat is cut fresh every single day, with work beginning immediately after the first night of Taraweeh prayers. The freshly cut meat is then transported to seven kitchens across Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman, where cooking begins in the morning. Vegetables and fruits are sourced fresh daily.
“This is not food you can prepare in advance and forget about,” said Karim. “If we are serving food in Ramadan, it has to be fresh, dignified, and done properly. Our focus is to serve the meals hot and fresh.”
The meals are distributed across 14 labour camps, with the largest gathering held at the Dubai Investment Park (DIP) iftar, which sees an attendance of around 5,000 people every evening. Other camps receive food simultaneously, requiring precise timing and coordination.
'The real backbone'
Behind the scenes, preparations also involve many people. Around 6,000 volunteers are expected to take part during Ramadan, helping with preparation, packing and distribution. Karim personally meets volunteers ahead of time to plan the month.
“The volunteers are the real backbone of this operation. Many take time off work just to serve others. I want them to understand that this is not about numbers, but about people who fasted the whole day for the meal.”
For Karim, Ramadan also means stepping away from his regular business responsibilities. “For this one month, everything else takes a back seat. My only duty is to make sure people can break their fast with peace,” said Karim.
Approvals from authorities
Another critical step is securing approvals from authorities, a process that is now nearing completion. Storage facilities have been arranged for water, dates and other supplies, with space set aside for the rice shipment once it arrives.
In total, the operation involves distributing over 1,095 tonnes of food and beverages, providing nearly one million meals through a carefully planned system that runs without pause for 30 days.
“At iftar time, when I see people sitting quietly, breaking their fast, that’s when the exhaustion disappears,” said Karim. “That moment makes the months of planning, the sleepless nights, and everything feel worth it.”
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